Gardaí are “operating on the basis” that there may be more riots in Dublin this weekend, the Taoiseach has warned.

Speaking at Dublin Castle this morning, Leo Varadkar said last night’s violence in Dublin “brought shame to our society and disgrace to those involved”.

Three Garda cars, three buses and a Luas tram were set on fire as the city centre descended into chaos last night – with Gardaí attacked by rioters and shops looted.

Some 34 people were arrested, with the vast majority due in court this morning.

A number of Gardaí were injured in the violence including one who is being treated for serious injuries in hospital this morning.

Gardaí at the scene where a teacher and three children were injured in a stabbing attack, 23-11-2023. Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

The riots broke out after protesters gathered at the scene of a knife attack on three young children and a teacher near a school on Parnell Square became violent.

“Yesterday evening, some people decided that the best way to respond to this terrible attack was to take to the streets of Dublin and try to terrify, intimidate, loot and destroy,” the Taoiseach said this morning.

“Their first reaction to a five-year-old child being stabbed was to burn our city, attack its businesses and assault our gardaí.

“As a result of their actions, buses and trams were set on fire, innocent passers-by were intimidated and pregnant women in the Rotunda Hospital were made feel unsafe and in danger.

“These people claim to be defending Irish citizens, yet they put in danger the newest and most vulnerable and most innocent people.”

A car burns on Parnell Street as rioters cause chaos in Dublin city centre, 23-11-2023. Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Mr Varadkar said the rioters “brought shame on Dublin, brought shame on Ireland and brought shame on their families and themselves”.

“These criminals did not do what they did because they love Ireland,” he said.

“They did not do what they did because they wanted to protect Irish people.

“They did not do it out of any sense of patriotism, however warped.

“They did so because they're filled with hate. They love violence, they love chaos and they love causing pain to others.

“Looting a shop was more important to them than protecting the lives of our children – and they disrupted a Garda investigation that was underway.”

A car burns on Parnell Street as rioters cause chaos in Dublin city centre, 23-11-2023. Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

The Taoiseach insisted Ireland has sufficient Gardaí with more in training.

Mr Varadkar said the Garda Commissioner is free to use the Public Order Act which permits Gardaí to limit gatherings in certain circumstances.

He said new laws in the coming weeks would “enable Gardaíto make better use of CCTV footage" and modernise Irish laws against incitement to hatred.

“To all those cowardly champions of Ireland who took to the streets of Dublin last night, let me say one thing,” he said.

“Ask your sisters, ask your friends, ask everyone you know, what they fear most on our streets.

“They're afraid of you.

“They’re afraid of your anger and your rage; afraid of your violence, your hate, and how you blame others for your problems.”

A double decker bus and a car are set alight on the edge of O’Connell Bridge during riots in Dublin, 23-11-2023. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews

Mr Varadkar said Gardaí are “operating on the basis” that there could be further violence this weekend.

“There are protests being organised online at the moment in a similar way as other protests have been organised online,” he said.

“So, the Garda Commissioner and the Gardaí are operating on the basis that there could be a recurrence of these events over the course of the weekend or into the future.”

He said the nation’s thoughts are with the injured children and their heroic care assistant who threw herself in harm’s way to protect them.

“[Our thoughts are] with all those who risked their lives to save lives,” he said.

“They're real Irish heroes, whatever their nationality – Irish, British and Italian.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the nation, united in shock.”